Sanitation and Millennium Development Goal in Afghanistan The Fourth South Asian Conference on Sanitation (SACOSAN-IV) April 4-7, 2011 COLOMBO, SRI LANKA

A: Overall Situation In the last decade preliminary steps were taken by the government to provide improved sanitation services into program package, but still: Under the age of 5, mortality rate is 161 per 1,000 life birth 25% of under 5 mortality is attributed to diarrhea Poor capacity and low public awareness are the critical factors behind these problems

Overall Situation Contd… ODF villages and CLTS are the major initiatives in the newly adopted national policy papers in WASH sector. The revised WASH Policy and Implementation Manual will enhance access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation. A balanced investment in water, sanitation and hygiene is expected to promote more sustainable results on the ground.

B: Overall Assessment Access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities at the country level is 27% and 5% respectively (NRVA 2007–2008) Access to WASH facilities in schools is about 45% (MoE) Only 32% child caregivers in urban and 13% in rural areas wash hands with soap 60% of the population has traditional covered latrines which are the most common type of sanitation facilities

C: Statistical Assessment Based on MRRD and CSO Estimation Figure 1: Sanitation facilities differ across regions

Greater income helps enhance the access to sanitation facilities Human Development Report, UNDP, 2011

Policy Approach Sanitation Community Based O & M

D: Issues and Gaps Institutional capacity Insufficient management information systems Low level of coordination among partners Weak monitoring and evaluation

D: Issues and Gaps Low community demand for sanitation Poverty barrier Shortage of financial resources Insecurity

E: Way Forwards Safe drinking water and sanitation for 50% population by 2014 Scale up (ODF) and CLTS initiatives through contribution of NGOs and CDCs Sanitize traditional latrines Ecosan toilets have been found another good option specially in schools and health centers Expand community based implementation service delivery to ensure sustainability Enhance partnership and resource mobilization

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